Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is looking to make the most of the club's last nine matches and finish the season on a high.

The £12million January signing has scored five goals in eight appearances but a thigh injury has forced him to sit out two matches during that time. He returned for last weekend's 3-2 win over Tottenham but was understandably short of his previous sharpness.

However, he is now looking to push on in the final two months of the campaign, and he told liverpoolfc.com: "My fitness is fine. When I came back for the Tottenham game I trained for a couple of days prior to that. I didn't feel as sharp as I could have."

He added: "I'm not making excuses for not performing as well as I'd have liked to have done. I'm glad the team won and I was happy to help the team.

"We've got nine games left and it's nine cup finals in my opinion. I'm hoping to remain fit and God willing I can for those nine games."

The Reds' current injury concern surrounds goalkeeper Jose Reina, who missed the last game with a calf injury. His participation in training has been restricted this week and Rodgers will make a decision on Friday on whether the Spain international travels with the squad to face Southampton.

"He hasn't trained so much this week, but he's coming along better and had a real good response to some of the work," said the Reds boss. "We'll find out by today for definite if he's going to be fit."

Midfielder Joe Allen also requires an operation to cure a long-term shoulder injury but the Liverpool manager said they would not stop the player joining Wales for their internationals this month.

"It is something he has been playing through," Rodgers said. "He has an operation he will probably need but he has been fine with it for a few years.

"Since October he has really felt it and it is something that, at the right time in the next couple of months, we'll look to get organised. But at this moment he is involved with the group and will be involved with the Wales squad and we'll look at it after that."